Many persons have voiced the opinion that 'no government should get to decide how you practice your religion'....

Let me ask a question that seems to have been overlooked.

Why is it that RELIGIONS get to decide how I should practice my religion?

Who in the hell gives the religions the authority to penalize me if, in the context of practicing my religion, I should talk to others of my faith about what the leadership of said faith, happens to be up to ....behind our backs.

IE: Partnering with the UN and agreeing on my behalf to its CHARTER

Who gives the religion the authority to persecute me because I chose to exercise the FREE SPEECH granted to ME in the Constitution of the country to which I belong?

I'll tell you who the hell gives the religion it's authority. THE GOVERMENT.

When a 'higher up' grants to an underling a level of 'authority', that underling's 'authority' belongs to the higher up, and that 'authority' merely flows through the underling to whomever that underling should apply that 'authority'.

If that underling should abuse that authority, then the higher up should take away that authority.

The government grants to incorporated religions a level of authority. When religions abuse that authority, it needs to be taken away.

Watchtower uses its granted authority to persecute fellow believers. It uses that authority to implement "thought control" and it uses that authority to enforce "shunning" of whistleblowers.

The Soviets banned them and they grew faster underground. I grew up on stories of the brave JW's behind the Iron Curtain and those who smuggled in the literature. They were an inspiration to us all , and proof ( to us) that Satan could not thwart Jehovah's Organisation.

JWs are guilty of murder, causing higher rates of suicide, covering up child molestation, and keeping members in prisoned

You're confusing the followers with the leadership. True, many followers adhere to rules so closely that it has lead to bad situations, but it's not the rank and file that should be punished by banning. It's the leadership that should be held accountable for their policies and rules. And banning the religion as a whole will not be adequate. Instead, as many have already pointed out, it's better to put other restrictions on them. Don't allow them to own property. Levy taxes. Punish those in authority in cover ups of child abuse cases.

But leaving all that aside, whether it's JWs, Mormons, Worldwide Church of God, and yes, even Scientology, people should be allowed to choose the religion of their choice. It's a human rights issue, not a JW issue. Ban one religion, then others are sure to follow.

We're in a particular situation because we've been JWs, been on the inside, seen how it works. And we know it's all BS, and that some of their policies are harmful, maybe even deadly on occasion. Remove that intimacy with the religion from the equation, and it becomes a human rights issue that should concern all freedom loving people.

BluesBrothers: The Soviets banned them and they grew faster underground. I grew up on stories of the brave JW's behind the Iron Curtain and those who smuggled in the literature. They were an inspiration to us all , and proof ( to us) that Satan could not thwart Jehovah's Organisation.

Well...that is what you were told. I don't think they grew faster - that sounds like a WT myth. I am not convinced.

There are several accounts of those banned, isolated little bands of JWs who emerged from hiding with copies of Rutherford literature clutched tightly in their hands. Which they rigorously defended, never re-joining the new and improved WTS. They view the WTS as "apostate" because the doctrine changed so much during their dark ages.

There is one of those groups that uploaded material to archive.org a few years ago. They call themselves the "Theocracy Publishers":

I am wondering if those isolated little groups of JWs, are the ones that are a point of contention mentioned in the court when "unregistered" congregations are being discussed as to whether the ban should include them or not (sorry...can't find that part right now). It seems like there is some confusion as to if the Admin Center oversees all of them (?).